Lachine Canal National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan 2018

Table of contents

• Foreword
• Recommendations
• Executive Summary
• 1.0 Introduction
• 2.0 Significance of Lachine Canal National Historic Site
• 3.0 Planning Context
• 4.0 Vision
• 5.0 Key Strategies
• 6.0 Area Management Approach for the Peel Basin
• 7.0 Summary of Strategic Environmental Assessment

Maps

• Map 1: Regional context
• Map 2: Lachine Canal National Historic Site
  • Map 2.1: Lachine Canal National Historic Site
  • Map 2.2: Lachine Canal National Historic Site
  • Map 2.3: Lachine Canal National Historic Site
  • Map 2.4: Lachine Canal National Historic Site
  • Map 2.5: Lachine Canal National Historic Site
• Map 3: Peel Basin Management Area

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Chief Executive Officer of Parks Canada, 2018.

For more information about the management plan or about Lachine Canal National Historic Site of Canada

Foreword

Canada’s national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas belong to all Canadians and offer truly Canadian experiences.

These special places make up one of the finest and most extensive systems of protected natural and cultural heritage areas in the world.

The Government is committed to preserving our natural and cultural heritage, expanding the system of protected places and contributing to the recovery of species-at-risk. At the same time, we must continue to offer new and innovative visitor and outreach programs and activities so that more Canadians can experience Parks Canada places and learn about our environment, history and culture.

This new management plan for Lachine Canal National Historic Site of Canada supports this vision.

Management plans are developed through extensive consultation and input from various people and organizations, including Indigenous Peoples, local and regional residents, visitors and the dedicated team at Parks Canada.

National parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas are a priority for the Government of Canada. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this plan for their commitment and spirit of co-operation.

As the Minister responsible for Parks Canada, I applaud this collaborative effort and I am pleased to approve the Lachine Canal National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan.

Recommendations

Recommended by:

Executive Summary

The Lachine Canal National Historic Site of Canada is located in the southern part of the island of Montreal. This 14.5 kilometre long engineering structure was built between 1821 and 1825 in order to bypass the Lachine Rapids. It not only facilitated the transport of merchandise, but it also contributed significantly to the economic and urban development of the Montreal area. It is also recognized as the founding site of the manufacturing industry in the country. The canal was designated of national historic significance in 1929.

Today, the Lachine Canal continues to welcome recreational boaters and offer lockage and mooring services, while its banks and multifunctional path attract over 1.2 million strollers and cyclists annually. The remaining industrial relics as well as its unique character are also valued by heritage enthusiasts.

This management plan replaces the 2004 management plan, which coincided with the reopening of the canal after being non-functional for over 30 years. A number of the objectives of the 2004 plan were achieved and were successful in terms of development, partnership and transformation of the site. Major investments announced in 2015 resulted in the current rehabilitation works of the canal infrastructure and will guarantee the maintenance of the infrastructure essential to its operation.

The new management plan is therefore part of the renewal of the site and its surroundings, in the midst of a full urban redevelopment process. The plan will also allow the canal to better position itself within Montreal’s tourist and cultural activities. The vision for the Lachine Canal aims to create an emblematic and inspiring place, supported by a community committed to its protection and improvement. To achieve this vision, four key strategies will guide the management of the site over the next 10 years:

Strategy 1:

The Lachine Canal: a Montreal emblem!

This strategy is intended to create a strong identity for the canal and to provide a distinctive signature that is rooted in the heritage values of the site, making it a major destination for local visitors and tourists. Three objectives support this strategy:

Objective 1.1:

The redevelopment of the Lachine Canal is distinctive by its urban approach and emphasizes the participation of innovative and creative stakeholders of the Montreal community.

Objective 1.2:

The condition and integrity of cultural resources associated with the canal's engineering works and buildings are improved.

Objective 1.3:

Dialogue with the urban planning departments of the City of Montreal boroughs is maintained and improved, in order to reinforce the uniqueness of the Lachine Canal's urban cultural landscape.

Strategy 2:

A renewed visitor experience

This second strategy as well as the objectives below focus on the renewal of the facilities and services offered, in order to better reflect the expectations of a variety of different users as well as the recent transformations of adjacent neighbourhoods.

Objective 2.1:

Visitor experience is enhanced and the full development potential of the canal is achieved.

Objective 2.2:

A Master Plan is devised and innovative experiences are offered to visitors for each of the canal’s sectors, reflecting their history and unique features.

Objective 2.3:

Cyclists and strollers appreciate a variety of experiences and paths available, either on the canal banks, in adjacent neighborhoods or in other Parks Canada sites that welcome cyclists.

Objective 2.4:

Public docks and services for recreational boaters are added.

Objective 2.5:

In collaboration with its partners, the canal offers a program of activities spread out over the four seasons.

Strategy 3:

An important collective asset, a development force for communities

The third strategy seeks to increase integration of the canal with adjacent communities to foster their ownership and to create positive impacts. Its objectives are:

Objective 3.1:

The communities rally for the canal and actively contribute to its activities and its outreach through the establishment of a new partnership approach.

Objective 3.2:

Increasing canal visitation translates into socio-economic and community development opportunities for stakeholders in adjacent communities.

Strategy 4:

An exceptional showcase for history and innovation

This strategy seeks to take advantage of the canal's urban setting to promote the unique expertise of Parks Canada and its vast network of protected areas.

Objective 4.1:

The Lachine Canal is a privileged site within Parks Canada for promoting its mission and historic sites, national parks and marine conservation areas managed by the Agency.

Objective 4.2:

In collaboration with the national outreach/cultural program, the Lachine Canal is actively involved in increasing awareness of historic sites, national parks and marine conservation areas.

This management plan advocates a more targeted management approach for the Peel Basin sector. Historically, the Peel Basin was a strategic point of convergence for ships navigating the canal. Today, it lies at the gateway to the Old Port and downtown Montreal and has a largely unexploited potential. The following is proposed for the Peel Basin management area:

1.0 Introduction

Parks Canada manages one of the finest and most extensive systems of protected natural and historic places in the world. The Agency’s mandate is to protect and present these places for the benefit and enjoyment of current and future generations. Future-oriented, strategic management of each national park, national marine conservation area, heritage canal and those national historic sites administered by Parks Canada supports the Agency’s vision:

The Parks Canada Agency Act requires Parks Canada to prepare a management plan for national historic sites administered by the Agency. The Lachine Canal National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan, once approved by the Minister responsible for Parks Canada and tabled in Parliament, ensures Parks Canada’s accountability to Canadians, outlining how historic site management will achieve measurable results in support of the Agency’s mandate.

Canadians, local partners and many stakeholders were involved in the preparation of the management plan, helping to shape the future direction of the national historic site. The plan sets clear, strategic direction for the management and operation of Lachine Canal National Historic Site by articulating a vision, key strategies and objectives. Parks Canada will report annually on progress toward achieving the plan objectives and will review the plan every ten years or sooner if required.

This plan is not an end in and of itself. Parks Canada will maintain an open dialogue on the implementation of the management plan, to ensure that it remains relevant and meaningful. The plan will serve as the focus for ongoing engagement on the management of Lachine Canal National Historic Site in years to come.

Map 1 : Regional context

Map 2 : Lachine Canal National Historic Site

Map 2.1 : Lachine Canal National Historic Site

Map 2.2 : Lachine Canal National Historic Site

Map 2.3 : Lachine Canal National Historic Site

Map 2.4 : Lachine Canal National Historic Site

Map 2.5 : Lachine Canal National Historic Site

2.0 Significance of Lachine Canal National Historic Site

The Lachine Canal is located in the heart of the City of Montreal. It consists of a 14.5 kilometre waterway comprised of five locks. The canal is bordered by a bustling multipurpose path which is connected to Montreal’s cycle network as well as the South Shore’s. The banks, used as a linear park, are popular for relaxation, contemplation of boats and for holding of events and gatherings.

The Lachine Canal is part of the five historic waterways managed by Parks Canada in Quebec ^{Footnote 1}. To these are added the Rideau Canal, Sault Ste-Marie Canal and Trent-Severn Waterway in Ontario as well as St-Peters Canal in Nova Scotia. These engineering works, which total 625 kilometres of waterways, have played a crucial role in the development and prosperity of the country.

The Lachine Canal was designated a national historic site in 1929 for its determining role at the head of the Canadian canal system linking the heart of the continent to the Atlantic Ocean. Built for commercial purposes between 1821 and 1825, the canal allowed the transport of a variety of goods and merchandise to the Canadian and United States markets or abroad for export. Because of its hydraulic potential, the canal also favoured the establishment of important industrial complexes along its shores. Companies in a variety of sectors of the economy created thousands of jobs along the canal, leading to the recognition of the Lachine Canal as the first Canadian industrial corridor. Attracted by these employment opportunities, workers and their families sought to settle near their places of work, which contributed to the growth of the adjacent working-class neighbourhoods. The Lachine Canal was thus an important factor in the growth of Montreal, having contributed significantly to its economic, industrial and urban development.

Even today, the Lachine Canal is a Montreal landmark. It attracted more than 1.2 million people in 2016, including more than 4,500 recreational boaters. Located at the limits of the «Quartier de l’Innovation» and the effervescent Griffintown neighbourhood, the Lachine Canal is of "exceptional heritage value", according to the City of Montreal’s urban planning documents. A number of manufacturing complexes that contributed to the notoriety of the site as an industrial corridor have now disappeared, but remnants of this glorious era still exist and shape its landscape. The preservation of their characteristics and their architecture have helped to maintain a unique character that is prized by industrial heritage lovers as well as trendy urbanites seeking innovative and unique places.

3.0 Planning Context

The most recent management plan for the Lachine Canal National Historic Site was tabled in Parliament in 2004 and its objectives reflected the canal's reopening in 2002, after having been non-operational for more than 30 years. Closed to commercial shipping in 1970, the canal was reopened to recreational boating following public investments of $110 million by both the City of Montreal and the Federal Government. Several objectives of the 2004 management plan have been successfully achieved, including: the establishment of a meaningful dialogue with local public and private partners, a greater ownership of the site by users and nearby residents as well as increased efforts to integrate with adjacent communities. However, other approaches must be considered in light of the important changes taking place in the surrounding urban areas over the last decade, as well as the operational reality of the canal.

The enhancement of the canal banks carried out in the late 1970s gave the site a new purpose as a linear park, in addition to directly contributing to the redevelopment of adjacent neighbourhoods. The development of the canal as a recreational corridor also launched important real estate developments and sparked a great desire for the enhancement of the waterway by its riverside residents.

In recent years, the canal and its surroundings have undergone major changes, its landscape being transformed as a result of demolitions, the conversion of old industries to residential and commercial purposes as well as the construction of new buildings. Important infrastructure projects, owned by other public entities also affect canal property and require considerable effort to mitigate their impacts and to ensure the preservation of the site's historic values. For their part, visitors continue to come in large numbers and express the desire to access renewed facilities and additional services. The canal is used as a tranquil green space located within a dense urban environment. More and more events, some of them local in scope, others that are larger, are also held along the canal and contribute to its notoriety.

The state of the site assessment conducted in 2016 revealed that the urban context, as well as the high level of visitation affect the condition and the maintenance of the canal property and its assets. In this context, ensuring public safety and the protection of the site's cultural resources become an issue. The Lachine Canal must also cope with the high expectations of the surroundings under full redevelopment and the large number of stakeholders with sometime divergent objectives. Nevertheless, the growing reputation of the Canal in Montreal’s tourist and cultural activities has led to numerous initiatives by the community as well as many opportunities. The remaining challenge is to support and channel this interest for the canal into opportunities to maintain or even increase the activities and amenities available to users in such a way that they can benefit from an improved visitor’s experience.

In 2015, the Lachine Canal launched a significant rehabilitation program for its infrastructure over a 5-year period, made possible by a Federal investment of $130 million, which represents more than the initial amount granted to the reopening of the canal in 2002. This investment program will help rehabilitate infrastructure, the condition of which has deteriorated, especially the canal's masonry walls, locks, overflow weirs as well as bridges, pedestrian bridges and multifunctional path. These important investments will also ensure the sustainability of water retention and flow management structures and as a consequence, public safety. The effects of such important public investments will exceed the limits of the Federal property on the Lachine canal and will certainly benefit the surrounding neighbourhoods.

All of these projects and initiatives resulted in the Lachine Canal to position itself in an evolving environment and to adapt its management priorities. This plan thus aims to update the strategic management direction to ensure that the Lachine Canal National Historic Site has a future that lives up to its potential and the aspirations of the communities that border and enliven it.

4.0 Vision

The vision below expresses the desired state of the Lachine Canal National Historic Site for the long term, around 2030.

5.0 Key Strategies

Key strategy No.1:

The Lachine Canal: a Montreal emblem!

This strategy aims at providing the Lachine Canal with a strong and cohesive identity that will acknowledge its role as an innovative historic site preserving industrial heritage in an urban setting. In a metropolitan and competitive context, a distinctive signature based mainly on the heritage values specific to the canal will contribute to making it an emblematic place in Montreal, a prime destination both for local and international visitors alike. This unique signature as well as the preservation of its values and cultural resources will enable the Lachine Canal to join the ranks as a leading player in the tourism and cultural sphere of the greater Montreal area.

Key strategy No.2:

A renewed visitor experience

This strategy focuses on the renewal and improvement of the visitor experience offered to canal visitors in order to meet the new expectations of different users and those created by the redevelopment of adjacent neighborhoods. In particular, this strategy aims to increase services offered, recreation and learning opportunities as well as to better reflect recent changes in the surrounding urban communities. Ultimately, the canal will be sought for its unique corridor, an inviting route to the discovery of an authentic heritage, the contemplation of its waterway and relaxation in a green landscape.

Key strategy No.3:

An important collective asset, a development force for communities

Since its reopening, the Lachine Canal has been an important lever in the redevelopment of surrounding neighbourhoods and has resulted in significant benefits for these communities and for the City of Montreal. This strategy seeks to increase the scope of this important collective asset and to reinforce its positive impact on communities. It also seeks to reaffirm the public ownership of the site and its integration with the communities that border it and that make it their own. Finally, this key strategy relies on strong partnerships to support Parks Canada in achieving its vision in the long term for the Lachine Canal.

Key strategy No.4:

An exceptional showcase on history and innovation

Parks Canada possesses a unique expertise in the management and the operation of a historic canal. Due to the urban location of the Lachine Canal, Parks Canada is well positioned to demonstrate its expertise to a wide audience but also to publicize and promote the vast network of heritage sites managed by the Agency. This strategy aims to make the Lachine Canal a flagship of Parks Canada, a unique historic site whose reputation is reflected throughout the entire Agency.

6.0 Area Management Approach for the Peel Basin

Historically, the Peel Basin was a strategic focal point, a true hub and a "window on the ocean", between deep-sea vessels and the ships destined for the interior network. Due to its depth and size, the Peel Basin was a "reversal" basin and allowed ocean vessels to move through. In addition to the navigable corridor, this area contained several coves, basins and lateral wharves linked to the transshipment and port functions.

In the early 2000s, the two former flour docks on the northeastern bank of the basin were cleared and restored. The old Tate and Wellington basins, on the opposite side, still remain backfilled and unused today. To this day, the Peel Basin sector possesses a large area of docks and banks that remain unused or minimally developed. In addition, it offers a unique landscape where one can observe downtown Montreal’s skyline and iconic symbols of the industrial heritage such as silo No. 5 in the Old Port of Montreal, the CN swing bridge and Five Roses Flour plant’s famous illuminated sign. The Peel Basin is also spanned by the Bonaventure Expressway, the main gateway to downtown Montreal.

An area management approach is intended to provide a particular focus to a well-defined sector with specific issues, opportunities and challenges. The Peel Basin calls for such a targeted approach because of:

All these elements taken together grant a special status to the area, as well as a high visibility and a considerable potential for development and heritage presentation. The Peel Basin can aspire to become a driving force for the Lachine Canal and even reacquire its role as a hub, as an attractive point of convergence for the Montreal community and tourists alike. The achievement of this strategy requires strong and strategic partnerships as well as a concerted and affirmed development vision.

Map 3 : Peel Basin Management Area

7.0 Summary of Strategic Environmental Assessment

Parks Canada is responsible for assessing and mitigating the impacts of management actions on ecosystems and on cultural resources. The Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals prepared by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, requires a strategic environmental assessment of all plans and policy submitted to the federal Cabinet or to a Minister for approval deemed to have important positive or negative environmental effects.

A strategic environmental assessment was undertaken on this management plan, and the management direction found within has been adjusted to respond to findings. The following is a summary of the environmental assessment: